Taylor Twellman reminisces Revs’ 2021 points record on ‘The Soccer Show’
The New England Revolution end the 2024 season tonight with a road match at Inter Miami CF, this season’s Supporter’s Shield winners, in South Florida.
In the first season under Head Coach Caleb Porter’s direction, New England struggled early in league play before an uptick in form in the summer. But following Leagues Cup, injuries to key players in the summer, and an active summer transfer window, the Revs were unable to rediscover that magic and were eliminated from playoff contention two weeks ago.
However, New England does have something to salvage from its final matchday of the 2024 campaign: Preserving the club’s single-season MLS points record from 2021.
The Revolution record of 73 points from that season is in flux, with Miami – sitting on 71 points – a victory shy of eclipsing that mark. The two sides met in Foxborough on the Decision Day in 2021, with Miami raining on the Revs’ Shield celebration with a 1-0 win – an afterthought at the time.
“It feels like 400 years ago,” said Revolution legend Taylor Twellman, who is calling Saturday’s match alongside Jake Zivin on MLS Season Pass, this morning on ‘The Soccer Show’. “I think it is unfortunate because 2021 was a magical year. And yet, it feels like if and when that is wiped away, it’s going to just be one of those where ‘Yeah, okay I guess it happened.”
Inter Miami, of course led by the legendary Lionel Messi and former FC Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Jordi Alba, and Sergio Busquets, has had a spectacular season. Messi has turned invintage performance after vintage performance, with 17 goals and 15 assists in just 18 MLS matches. Suarez looks like the striker of old with 18 goals, while Alba has reached 12 assists out of the left wingback position.
The Revolution drew a record crowd of 65,612 fans at Gillette Stadium for their first meeting with Inter Miami back on April 27 – a 4-1 victory for the visitors. While Tomás Chancalay put the Revs ahead just 38 seconds into the match, Messi was inevitable and led the comeback with two goals and an assist.
But Inter Miami’s roster is also laden with young talent from the Academy and abroad, with the Herons receiving contributions from players up and down the roster throughout the year.
“This is the deepest roster in MLS history,” said Twellman. “When you talk to the coaches, the technical staffs, and the people that have been around this league from the beginning, there is not a team that anyone mentions in comparison to this. I get that ’21 team was unreal, but they are not deeper than this Miami team.”
As for New England, the looming offseason is poised to be a busy one with several players facing club options or free agency. The Revs were active during both the April trade window and the summer transfer window, and there will undoubtedly be some more new faces arriving in Foxborough this winter.
“I think this is a real project,” said Twellman. “I am intrigued to see what it looks like, and I don’t have any inclination, honestly, what it looks like. I did not see wholesale changes coming. And as much as they need to, they are going to have to.”
Listen to Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies call the action here on 98.5 The Sports Hub when the Revs visit Inter Miami tonight. Watch the match, and all other MLS Decision Day fixtures, on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish.